APRIL 29, 2022, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A19
Celtic athletes put pen to paper
By JOSHUA MANES
Of the Keizertimes
McNary athletics celebrated some of its
student-athletes on Monday at McNary’s col-
lege signing day.
Joined in the library by friends, family
and staff, with balloons and decorations of
their future schools surrounding them, col-
lege bound athletes signed letters of intent
for their respective colleges.
At the main ceremony, Tyler Copeland
and Jake Patton from football and Hannah
Ebner and Ellie Martin from softball signed.
Copeland is going to Western Oregon
University, while Patton is going to George
Fox University. Ebner is enrolling at Eatern
Oregon University, and Martin is on her way
to Chemeketa Community College.
Earlier in the day, baseball’s Logan Ready
and Hayden Kaiser had their own ceremony,
as baseball had a game scheduled at West
Salem High School later that day. Both Ready
and Kaiser are heading to Pacific Lutheran
University.
“I hope it celebrates all the hard work
that led up to that point,” athletic director
Scott Gragg said. “Everyone’s recruiting
Jake Patton, Tyler Copeland, Ellie Martin and Hannah Ebner sign at McNary High School's college signing day in the McNary
library on Monday, April 25. The ceremony celebrated McNary student-athletes continuing their athletic careers in college.
Photo by JOSHUA MANES of the Keizertimes
path is different. It’s nice for them to be able
to acknowledge their path and how they got
here. It’s like when you get married or have
McNary softball head coach Kelly Parcell talks about Hannah Ebner and Ellie Martin at
McNary High School's college signing day on Monday, April 25, in the McNary Library.
Ebner is going to Eastern Oregon University, and Martin is going to Chemeketa Com-
munity College to continue playing softball.
significant events and you see all the peo-
ple around you that helped get you there, it
makes moments like this significant.”
The athletes can see how special it is for
those that supported them throughout their
careers to be there.
“It just shows how much support I have
had throughout this journey,” Copeland said.
I have lots of coaches, friends, family coming
to show love and support. It’s a blessing sit-
ting here looking at all their faces and trying
not to cry.”
It appeared as though most of the softball
team was in attendance to support Ebner and
Martin. Something head coach Kelly Parsell
sees as a tribute to the closeness of her team.
“Whatever girl is up there, our whole team
would be here to support and not because
we have to, because we get to,” Parsell said.
“They all love each other, it’s one big happy
family. They’re together and they’re each oth-
er’s supporters and they’ve really bought into
that. I think it’s really special for those two
girls to see the whole team is here and cares
about them and supports them.”
As with almost everything in the past two
years, COVID forced some changes in how
McNary handled their signings.
According to Gragg, they used to have
three separate signings during the year.
One in November for early signings, one in
February that typically featured football, and
one in April to catch the late signers.
But they’ve had to do it out on the track
the last two years. Now this year, they were in
the library being celebrated.
For Copeland, the decision on schools
has an even more significant meaning. His
choice of Western Oregon also happens to
be the alma mater of his father, McNary wide
receivers coach Andrew Copeland.
“Going to the same school as him, follow-
ing in the same footsteps, I wasn’t planning
on it, and now that it’s coming, it’s a joy,”
Copeland said.
Photo by JOSHUA MANES of the Keizertimes
SUBSCRIBE
Keizer news in your mailbox only $35 a year*
Call 503 . 390.1051
*Rate for inside Marion County
Cat of the Week
Names:
(L) HOBBES
CALVIN (R)
Both Cats
Age:
1 year old
HISTORY:
PREFERRED HOME:
Calvin and Hobbes are both male
These cats are very friendly and
domestic short hair tabbies.
mellow. They are good
They must be adopted together.
around other people.
WE HAVE MOVED >>> Our new location is 4157 Cherry Avenue, Keizer <<< 503-362-5611